Professor Leon Feinstein has been appointed as Director of Evidence by the Children’s Commissioner for England to help lead delivery of her five-year plan, Ambitious for Children.
Leon joins the Commissioner from the Early Intervention Foundation where he has established a highly credible evidence base for what works. He was formerly chief analyst in the Cabinet Office’s Implementation Unit and has worked in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and the Performance and Reform Unit in HM Treasury, and as Head of the Evidence and Analysis Unit in the Office for Criminal Justice Reform at the Ministry of Justice. He is also Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics’ Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion.
Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner said: “I am a huge admirer of Leon’s extremely important work and am thrilled that he will be joining my team to help deliver our ambitious plans for children.
“Leon’s research has had a tremendous influence on so many areas of children’s policy and practice. We are aiming to significantly change the odds for the most vulnerable children and I am very much looking forward to working with Leon to make this happen.”
Professor Leon Feinstein said: “I am delighted and honoured to be joining the Children’s Commissioner’s office. Anne’s ambitious strategy for children comes at a critical time and represents a vital mission. I look forward to helping to ensure real improvement to the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people, using the best possible data and evidence, including the voices of the children themselves.”
“I have been honoured to be part of setting up the Early Intervention Foundation and will leave behind an organisation that boasts a hugely talented and committed team and will only go from strength to strength.”
Leon will join the Commissioner’s Office in July. His engagement with early intervention will continue through his role as a Research Associate of the Early Intervention Foundation.
